On the night of the 16th June, we carried out a large-scale night attack. One battalion broke through a portion of the enemy’s line…but we suffered great losses.

Captain Taisa Shimamura

The battle evolved itself into a madhouse of noise, tracers, and flashing lights. As tanks were hit and set afire, they silhouetted other tanks coming out of the flickering shadows.

Major James Donovan

Near here about 1,000 Japanese infantrymen joined 44 tanks in a powerful counterattack against the Marines holding Red Beach. This was the first large-scale tank battle of the Pacific War. At first light the next morning, Marines counted 31 tanks burning on the battlefield.

Two days’ fighting on this beachhead cost the U.S. 2nd Marine Division 3,500 casualties.